Beverage dispensing device

Abstract

According to one example, a beverage dispensing device includes a beverage vessel configured to hold a beverage within the beverage vessel. The beverage vessel has a hole that extends entirely through a bottom portion of the beverage vessel. The beverage dispensing device further includes a plug seat located within the beverage vessel and positioned around the hole, and a weighted plug located within the beverage vessel and positioned against the opening in the plug seat. The weighted plug and plug seat are configured to prevent the beverage from draining through the hole by creating a liquid-tight seal. The beverage dispensing device further includes a lever coupled, at least indirectly, to the beverage vessel. The lever is configured, when activated, to move the weighted plug in relation to the plug seat so as to break the liquid-tight seal. The weighted plug is securely coupled to the lever.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage dispensing device, comprising:
 a beverage vessel configured to hold a beverage within the beverage vessel, the beverage vessel having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a hole that extends entirely through the bottom portion of the beverage vessel;   a plug seat located within the beverage vessel and positioned around the hole, the plug seat entirely surrounding the hole, the plug seat further extending into and all the way through the depth of the hole, the plug seat having an opening configured to allow the beverage to flow into the opening, flow through a hollow center of the plug seat, and drain through the hole of the beverage vessel to exit the beverage vessel;   a weighted plug located within the beverage vessel and positioned against the opening in the plug seat, the weighted plug and plug seat being configured to prevent the beverage from draining through the hole by creating a liquid-tight seal, the weighted plug having a connection piece that extends through the hole and securely couples to a first end of a lever;   the lever coupled, at least indirectly, to the beverage vessel, the lever having the first end and a second end positioned distally from the first end, the lever being configured, when activated by pressing vertically downward on the second end, to move the weighted plug vertically upward in relation to the plug seat so as to break the liquid-tight seal and cause the beverage contained in the beverage vessel to flow into the opening, flow through the hollow center of the plug seat, and drain through the hole of the beverage vessel to exit the beverage vessel;   a filter located within the beverage vessel and positioned around the weighted plug, the filter having a mesh screen configured to filter the beverage as the beverage passes through the filter, the filter being shaped as a cylinder with an open end and a closed end, the filter being positioned in one or more grooves formed in the plug seat;   a base coupled to the beverage vessel and configured to hold the beverage vessel in an upright orientation, the base having a handle; and   a lid configured to be positioned on the top portion of the beverage vessel in order to at least partially seal off the top portion of the beverage vessel, the lid being further configured to fit into the base so that the lid can be used as a coaster for the base and beverage vessel.   
     
     
         2 . A beverage dispensing device, comprising:
 a beverage vessel configured to hold a beverage within the beverage vessel, the beverage vessel having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a hole that extends entirely through the bottom portion of the beverage vessel;   a plug seat located within the beverage vessel and positioned around the hole, the plug seat entirely surrounding the hole, the plug seat having an opening configured to allow the beverage to flow into the opening and drain through the hole of the beverage vessel to exit the beverage vessel;   a weighted plug located within the beverage vessel and positioned against the opening in the plug seat, the weighted plug and plug seat being configured to prevent the beverage from draining through the hole by creating a liquid-tight seal;   a lever coupled, at least indirectly, to the beverage vessel, the lever having a first end and a second end positioned distally from the first end, the lever being configured, when activated, to move the weighted plug in relation to the plug seat so as to break the liquid-tight seal and cause the beverage contained in the beverage vessel to flow into the opening and drain through the hole of the beverage vessel to exit the beverage vessel, wherein the weighted plug is securely coupled to the first end of the lever;   a filter located within the beverage vessel and positioned around the weighted plug, the filter having a mesh screen configured to filter the beverage as the beverage passes through the filter, the filter being positioned in one or more grooves formed in the plug seat;   a base coupled to the beverage vessel and configured to hold the beverage vessel in an upright orientation, the base having a handle; and   a lid configured to be positioned on the top portion of the beverage vessel in order to at least partially seal off the top portion of the beverage vessel.   
     
     
         3 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 2 , wherein the weighted plug is shaped as a ball and further has a connection piece that extends through the hole and securely couples to the first end of the lever. 
     
     
         4 . A beverage dispensing device, comprising:
 a beverage vessel configured to hold a beverage within the beverage vessel, the beverage vessel having a hole that extends entirely through a bottom portion of the beverage vessel;   a plug seat located within the beverage vessel and positioned around the hole, the plug seat having an opening configured to allow the beverage to drain through the hole of the beverage vessel to exit the beverage vessel;   a weighted plug located within the beverage vessel and positioned against the opening in the plug seat, the weighted plug and plug seat being configured to prevent the beverage from draining through the hole by creating a liquid-tight seal;   a lever coupled, at least indirectly, to the beverage vessel, the lever being configured, when activated, to move the weighted plug in relation to the plug seat so as to break the liquid-tight seal and cause the beverage contained in the beverage vessel to flow past the opening and drain through the hole of the beverage vessel to exit the beverage vessel, wherein the weighted plug is securely coupled to the lever; and   a filter located within the beverage vessel and positioned around the weighted plug, the filter having a mesh screen configured to filter the beverage as the beverage passes through the filter.   
     
     
         5 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the weighted plug and the lever are a single piece. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the weighted plug is shaped as a ball and further has a connection piece that extends through the hole and securely couples to an end of the lever. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein both the weighted plug and an end of the lever are securely coupled to a linkage piece that securely couples the weighted plug to the end of the lever. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the plug seat entirely surrounds the hole. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the plug seat extends into the hole. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 9 , wherein the plug seat extends all the way through the depth of the hole. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the opening in the plug seat is further configured to allow the beverage to flow into the opening, flow through a hollow center of the plug seat, and drain through the hole of the beverage vessel to exit the beverage vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the lever is further configured, when activated, to move the weighted plug vertically upward in relation to the plug seat so as to break the liquid-tight seal and cause the beverage contained in the beverage vessel to flow past the opening and drain through the hole of the beverage vessel to exit the beverage vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the lever is further configured, when activated, to move the weighted plug horizontally in relation to the plug seat so as to break the liquid-tight seal and cause the beverage contained in the beverage vessel to flow past the opening and drain through the hole of the beverage vessel to exit the beverage vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the lever is configured to be activated by a user moving an end of the lever vertically downward. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the lever is configured to be activated by a user moving an end of the lever vertically upward. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the lever is configured to be activated by a user moving an end of the lever horizontally. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the filter is positioned in one or more grooves formed in the plug seat. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , further comprising a base coupled to the beverage vessel and configured to hold the beverage vessel in an upright orientation, the base having a handle. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 18 , wherein the beverage vessel is configured to be screwed into the base to couple the base to the beverage vessel. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , further comprising a lid configured to be positioned on a top portion of the beverage vessel in order to at least partially seal off the top portion of the beverage vessel. 
     
     
         21 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 20 , further comprising a base coupled to the beverage vessel and configured to hold the beverage vessel in an upright orientation, wherein the lid is further configured to fit into the base so that the lid can be used as a coaster for the base and beverage vessel. 
     
     
         22 . The beverage dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the weighted plug is shaped as a ball and further has a connection piece that extends through the hole and securely couples to an end of the lever, wherein the connection piece is a threaded rod that extends through a hole in the end of the lever, wherein a cap nut securely couples the threaded rod to the end of the lever.